The bronze statue captures the Oct. 2, 1983, moment when the legendary left fielder tipped his helmet to fans before going to bat for the last time. The statue sits at the corner of Ipswich and Van Ness streets and is nearby the statues of other Sox greats Ted Williams, Johnny Pesky, Bobby Doerr and Dom DiMaggio.

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Yastrzemski, 74, who was on hand for the ceremony, played his entire 23-year baseball career with the Sox.

"I'm deeply honored to stand before you today, seeing this statue in front of the place that I called home for 23 years," Yastrzemski said.

Yastrzemski hit 452 career home runs, scored 1,816 runs, drove in 1,844 runs, hit 646, had a .379 on-base percentage, won seven Rawlings Gold Gloves, was an 18-time All-Star and had one unforgettable Triple Crown season leading the "Impossible Dream" Red Sox to the American League Championship in 1967.

Always known as "Yaz," he also played a key role when the Red Sox won the 1975 pennant.

Among those in attendance for the unveiling of the statue were Boston Mayor Tom Menino and former teammates Hall of Famer Jim Rice, outfielder Dwight Evans, Bill Lee and Luis Tiant. Also on hand were current Sox players Dustin Pedroia, Jonny Gomes, Daniel Nava and manager John Farrell.

"He was a complete package. He was a great hitter, a great clutch-hitter. Nobody, and I mean nobody, ever played the wall like he did," Evans said.

Menino proclaimed it "Carl Yastrzemski Day for the city of Boston" at the 30-minute ceremony.

"More than a ballplayer, he was good for the neighborhood, good for the people," said Menino.

Yastrzemski was scheduled to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before the Sox-Blue Jays game later in the day.